Mark Ward's side took a valuable point from Fenland as nine-man AFC held on for a 1-1 draw with Wisbech Town.
Cameron Dear's deflected free-kick rewarded AFC's bright start but red cards for Pat Lindley and Ollie Fearon on either side of half-time allowed the hosts back into the game before the scores eventually were levelled.
The first real chance of the game saw Ollie Fearon's volley crash against the woodwork, as he latched onto Julian Lawrence's superb volleyed clearance.
Their lead was almost doubled only minutes later as Cameron Dear's corner was headed towards goal by Lawrence and blocked on the line before Pat Lindley's rebound struck the side-netting.
Dear himself should have got on the scoresheet a minute later when Fearon brilliantly found Dear in plenty of space but the winger couldn't finish past Connell.
The forward did redeem himself later in the first half, however, as his deflected free-kick was enough to beat Connell in the Wisbech goal and hand AFC a deserved lead.
In control of the game, the Bulls were dealt a blow as Pat Lindley's challenge at half-way was adjudged by the referee to be worthy of a red card.
Despite the red card, AFC continued to have a foothold in the game, and Fearon almost doubled their lead after half-time when Connell was forced to tip his looping header away.
But disaster struck for Mark Ward's side with just 10 second-half minutes played, as Fearon kicked the ball away and was shown a second yellow card.
The hosts were in the ascendancy after the second red card, and Michael Frew should have levelled when he scuffed a chance in front of a gaping wide net.
The Bulls defended resiliently with little chance to break, but their resistance was finally broken when Toby Hilliard headed a ball from deep beyond the reach of Jason White.
White came to the rescue for his side deep into injury time, practically earning a point for the Bulls when he brilliantly palmed a volley wide when it looked certain to hit the back of the net.
The draw proved to be valuable as it pushed AFC a point further from the East Division danger zone.
AFC kick-off their April schedule at home to league leaders Morpeth Town on Tuesday night.
MATCH DETAILS
Final score | Wisbech Town 1-1 AFC Mansfield
Scorers | Hilliard (79') - Dear (21')
Wisbech Town XI | Connell, Peasgood (Wright 68'), Gale (Maddison 58'), Fairweather, Marshall, Millson (C), McQuaid (Gurney 55'), Setchell, Frew, Hilliard, Edge
Unused substitutes | Nkala, Hipwell
Yellow cards | N/A
Red cards | N/A
AFC Mansfield XI | White, Marsden, Dudley, Marsden, Lindley (C), Annable, Lawrence, Dear (Froggatt 67'), Ghaichem, Fearon, Broadhead, Wall (Buxton 73’)
Unused substitutes | Jumma, Crosby
Yellow cards | Fearon (40'), White (79’), Buxton (90’)
Red cards | Lindley (39'), Fearon (56')
Man-of-the-Match | Julian Lawrence
Attendance | TBC